Fish hematology and associated disorders

Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2015 Jan;18(1):83-103. doi: 10.1016/j.cvex.2014.09.007.

Abstract

Fish health is a growing concern as pets, education, and aquaculture evolves. For the veterinary staff, fish handling, diagnostics, medicine, and surgery may require specialized training and equipment in comparison with terrestrial and arboreal animals, simply because of their aquatic nature and diversity. Fish hematology is one diagnostic tool that may not require additional equipment, may be inexpensive, and provide useful information in guiding treatment options. Challenges involving hematology may include handling and restraint, venipuncture, evaluation, and interpretation. In this article, strategies for these challenges are discussed for teleost (bony fish) and elasmobranch (cartilaginous fish) fish types.

Keywords: Blood cells; Elasmobranch; Erythrocytes; Fish; Hematology; Leukocytes; Teleost; Thrombocytes.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Aquaculture / methods
  • Fish Diseases / blood*
  • Fishes / blood*
  • Hematologic Diseases / veterinary
  • Hematology / methods
  • Veterinary Medicine / methods